Twelve children have died from a mysterious illness in the past two months in a village in the center of the Ivory Coast, local sources told AFP today.

In Kpo Kahankro, a few kilometers from the city of Bouake, “we recorded six deaths in December 2022, three before Friday, January 20, and three more this Thursday, bringing the total to 12,” explained Paul Kwazii. , chairman of the rural youth association.

The age of the victims ranged from 1 to 8 years. Children, Kwazii says, suddenly become rigid and vomit.

François Quaco Gayet, a villager who lost his 18-month-old granddaughter today, called on the authorities to find the “causes of the evil” and “stop it”, confirming that twelve children have died since early December.

The two ministers traveled to the village in December after the first deaths were reported. Some patients were transferred to the University Hospital (CHU) Bouake. “We don’t know what’s going on. The government took samples from the first victims in December and we are still waiting for the results. After today’s three deaths, other patients have also been transferred to CHU Bouaké,” Kouassi said.

A source at the hospital, who asked not to be named, confirmed that sick children from the village were admitted to CHU Bouaké today.

^{Source: APE-MEB, AFP.}